Chapter 1 Taken By The Mafia

• Louis straightened his back as he rode his overused brown bicycle. He parked the bicycle on the lawn before a lone bungalow. He knew his father would complain if he saw him crushing over the freshly mowed lawn, but he was distracted by the rows of expensive cars parked at the driveway of their house. He frowned as he got down from the bicycle.
• Did they have visitors?
• It's been a long time since anyone has come to visit his father. Besides, it wasn't pleasant the last time they did. And none of them came with such expensive-looking cars.
• Forgetting about his bicycle, he held the strap of his school bag and rushed into the house, curious to know who their rich visitors were.
• Louis barged into the living room. Immediately, he locked eyes with a gentleman who sat on a couch opposite his father who was kneeling before him. His enthralling champagne brown eyes stared at Louis.
• Louis's father, London, spoke. “Mr Smith, I… I'm very sorry about the delay.”
• Edward, who was still staring at Louis, spoke without looking at Louis's father. “Are you?” He questioned arrogantly.
• “Yes, Mr Smith! I am!” London nodded. “I don't wish for it to come to this.”
• The man looked back at Louis's father. He picked up the glass of wine that was on the stool before him and swirled it in his hand. Looking very relaxed, he crossed his legs and leaned back on the couch. The man looked much younger than his father so Louis was wondering why his father spoke to him so formally.
• “Remind me, London,” Edward brushed his stubble, looking very serious and deadly. “How much are you owing me?”
• His father swallowed hard and glanced at Louis. It was so obvious he didn't want Louis to witness such an embarrassment. Confused, Louis stood by the door watching his father. He never knew his father owed anyone money.
• “It… It's two million dollars, Mr Smith.”
• The man hummed, but Louis's father still looked tense.
• “Don't you think that is too much money to owe someone for two years?”
• Louis's father pleaded again.
• “Mr Smith, please just give me at least two months. I promise, I will give all your money back to you within two months!”
• The man scoffed. “ I can't spare you two months, London.”
• The man dropped the glass of wine on the stool and looked at Louis as he spoke. “I never knew your son was this grown up.”
• London widened his eyes as he realized where Edward was heading. He grabbed Edward’s feet, begging. “Please don't take him. He is the only one I have!”
• A hunky man stepped forward with a malicious look. He stretched out his hand to grab London in an attempt to remove his hand from Edward, but Edward held up his hand. Immediately, the man nodded and stepped back.
• Without looking at the hunky man, Edward snapped his finger in Louis' direction. “Take him.”
• Instantly, the hunky man turned and started at Louis. Panicking, Louis stepped back and frowned at his father.
• “Dad, what's goin—"
• Before he could complete his statement, the hunky man came up to him and grabbed his hands. Louis struggled within his tight grip.
• “Please, let me go!” He yelled at the man.
• “Please, Edward! Let him go!” His father pleaded again, but it fell on deaf ears.
• Ignoring his father's protest, Edward stood up and walked out of the living room. All the other men who were standing at different angles of the room followed him. Louis gazed back at his father as the hunky man dragged him out of the living room.
• “Dad! Dad!” he cried out for help. “Dad, please help me!”
• London couldn't stop them from taking away his only son. He collapsed on the cold floor, crying.
• Without showing any mercy, the hunky man dragged Louis outside and stopped beside a black sleek car. He brought out a rope from his back pocket and tied Louis's free hands.
• Louis sobbed as he tightened the rope around his tender skin. He looked at the hunky man with his wet glittering ocean eyes.
• “Please, don't do this. Please…” Louis spoke amidst tears, looking down at his tied hands in defeat.
• The man hissed at him angrily. “Shut the hell up or I will gag your mouth too!”
• Louis whimpered as he tried to understand everything that was happening. His whole life was turning upside down. He prayed silently that his father would call the police so that he could be safe in the comfort of his home. The rope around his wrist bit into his flesh. He twisted his hands, trying to break free.
• Malik was about to open the door of the Lamborghini for his boss, Edward, when he noticed how tight the rope was around Louis's hand. He approached Louis.
• “Don't bind his hands. The boss won't be pleased if he has any blisters or bruises.”
• The hunky nodded and let go of Louis's hand. “Okay.”
• Malik grabbed Louis's tied hands. Slowly, he untied the rope. He let the rope fall to the ground when he was done. Then, he looked at Louis.
• “I won't go easy on you if you try to escape, understood?” Malik warned.
• Looking scared and fragile, Louis nodded.
• “Answer me when I speak to you.”
• Louis fidgeted with his hands and darted his eyes to Malik.
• “Yes, I… I won't try to escape.”
• Malik nodded and walked toward the Lamborghini where Edward stood waiting for him.
• “Follow me,” Malik said.
• Louis fiddled with the hem of his shirt as he followed Malik. He looked ahead. Edward stood by the car, watching him closely. He studied his surroundings. Out of all the men there, he knew the whereabouts of his house better than they did. He wasn't tied down so he could run away. But the problem was whether he would be able to escape if he did so. Those men guarding Edward look so terrifying. It was obvious they weren't mere bodyguards, especially Malik. His gait was relaxed yet alert. And his eyes were calculating.
• No doubt, Malik would be the first to catch him if he ever tried to run away.
• Malik stopped walking and turned to look at Louis.
• “Keep walking!” He commanded.
• Louis had been so lost in his thoughts of running away that he didn't realize he had been standing in the same spot.
• Immediately, he started walking, trying to meet up with Malik at a fast pace.
• “I'm sorry,” Louis mumbled.
• Without saying anything, Malik grunted and continued walking. They got to the Lamborghini. Malik opened the door of the back seat. Then, he looked at Louis.
• “Enter.”
• Without objecting, Louis swallowed hard and stepped into the back seat of the car. They made it look like it was his own will to follow them.
• Malik opened the front door for Edward before going to sit in the driver's seat. When they were all seated, he started the car and drove out of the driveway. Louis's heart thumped as the car zoomed through the empty street. He felt like a fool for not doing anything. He had just stood like a statue and allowed himself to be taken away without any sort of reluctance. At least, he should have screamed for help or tried to call the police.
• The moment the Lamborghini drove out of his street, his stomach knotted and his heart started beating fast. Where were they taking him to? And what were they planning to do with him?
• Many questions jolted through his mind and he needed answers, but he couldn't dare to question his captors. Who knows what they would do to him if he spoke without being permitted?
• At one point, Louis couldn't hold back his fright anymore. He scooted to a corner of the back seat, fighting the temptation to jump out of the moving car. But he couldn't. That would be a suicide plan and he wasn't ready to die. Louis hugged himself as he looked at his captors again.
• “Please, can you tell me where you are taking me?”
• Malik gripped the car wheel and looked at Louis. Then, he spoke. “Now, listen to me. You only talk when you are asked a question. Understood?”
• Louis wasn't pleased with Malik's reply, but he couldn't dare to step out of his boundary again. Looking frightened, he curled his legs up and nodded slowly.
• “Okay.”
• “Good.”
• Soon, the Lamborghini parked before an expensive looking ornate black gate. Louis sat up and observed the gate. He wondered what cruel fate awaited him beyond that gate.
• Do they plan to sell him simply because his father owed them money?
• The gate automatically opened. Then, Malik drove inside. At the far end, a magnificent mansion stood proudly before a shimmering pool. Louis was so worried that he couldn't enjoy the beautiful view of the mansion.
• Malik parked the car in a lush garage. He stepped out of the car and went to the back seat. He opened the back door of the car and commanded Louis to step down from the car. Louis got down and was taken into the mansion.
• Louis fidgeted with his hands as Malik took him into a lift. The colorful interior design of the mansion was breathtaking, but for a panicked and worried Louis, it was nerve-racking. Whoever owned this mansion was extremely rich and had the money to buy him. Malik stopped before the door of a room and opened it. Then, he beckoned to Louis.
• “Go inside,” Malik ordered.
• Louis pressed his thumb into his palm as he entered the room. He couldn't reply. He was too scared to say anything. Once he entered the room, he sat on the bed in the center of the room. Hours passed and still, nobody came for him. Eventually, he slept off. The creaking of the door woke him up. Curious, Louis sat up on the bed and looked around him.
• In the thick darkness of the room, he noticed a figure sitting on a couch that was at the opposite of the bed.